Podcast / Blog

“A weed is a plant whose virtue is yet to be discovered.” Ralph Waldo Emerson Jenny joined our nature immersion program after her mother chose to take her out of school at the end of 6th grade. Worried about Jenny’s mental health, her mother felt that the current...

Guest Author: Heather Boyd, Occupational Therapist There was a time in the early months of parenting when I counted my son’s sleep in minutes. Not hours, not half hours, and not even quarters of an hour. Minutes. I wrote down these minutes on scraps of paper in the...

My alarm goes off and the feeling of dread comes over me. I am about to begin the morning battle with my 9-year-old. I tiptoe into her room and place a gentle hand on her back. With a soft sing-songy voice I recite:“Hey sweetheart, it’s morning and time to get up.”...

“Trauma isn’t what happens to you, trauma is what happens inside you."-Dr. Gabor Mate We are at a stop sign on a little backroad when my nine year old flings her seat belt off and throws the car door open with an ear-bending squeal. I freak out too and yell “Close the...

Why does the phrase "Drive fast, take chances" elicit both laughter and fear? Researchers have identified a kind of developmentally important play called "Scary Funny." Listen to this engaging conversation with Mariana Brussoni, risk researcher from the University of...

One of my favorite 8-year-olds and I were recently wandering a winter garden when she picked up a white and grey Mockingbird feather. In magic wand fashion she waved it back and forth, then used it to feel the wind on her cheek.Her eyelids dipped and a gentle smile...

Yesterday my 17-year-old and I were talking about the upcoming holiday season when she said, “Mom, I’d rather have fewer things and more of you instead.” It made me wonder, “why do people even give gifts this time of year?” After mulling over my daughter’s...

If you have a child, or you work with kids, you should be aware that they are living in a seriously depressed and anxious world. The World Health Organization reports that “Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide” (World Health Organization, 2018)....

When kids don’t listen, emotionally freak out, withdraw and get aggressive, they may be demonstrating signs of underdeveloped sensory-motor processing abilities. You might never guess this, but a child’s ability to regulate their emotions has everything to...